Paul tells us in 1Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

But this can be very challenging at times. 

Corrie ten Boom tells when she was living in a German concentration camp, her entire body became infested with lice, making a bad situation worse. She was complaining about it one day, and her sister reminded her of the Bible passage that says, “In everything, give thanks” and she challenged Corrie to give thanks for the lice. Corrie’s response was, “How can I give thanks to God for lice?” But she made a choice to offer thanks for the lice anyway. Later, she found out that the lice had actually protected her from the assaults of the German soldiers.

Sometimes the circumstances of our lives are not always that great. In fact, they may be just downright bad, but still, we are to look for something to be thankful for! And there is always something positive we can be thankful for!

Dr. Dale Robbins writes, “I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord, and can invoke an invitation for the devil to cause havoc with our lives.”

So, what does this mean? In a nutshell complaining makes us miserable.

David even tells of his experience. 

Psalm 77:3 “I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.” 

So, this brings us to the time of season we are now entering. 

The Pilgrim Fathers, who landed at Plymouth Rock about 400 years ago, knew nothing of the affluent times which you and I enjoy today in this great country of ours. The next time you and I are tempted to complain about inflation and the state of our economy, remember the following:

During that first long winter at Plymouth Colony, seven times as many graves were made for the dead as homes for the living. The ship which was to bring food and relief brought 35 more mouths to feed, but not an ounce of provisions. 

Touching indeed is the picture of William Brewster, rising from a scanty Plymouth dinner, consisting of a plate of clams and a glass of cold water, to thank God “for the abundance of the sea and the treasures hid in the sand.”

The Pilgrims didn’t have much, but they possessed a great gratitude, and it was upon this very thing that America was built. These stalwart people, strong, devout and sincere were the timbers upon which our nation was founded. 

The tradition of giving five kernels of corn began with the celebration of Forefather's Day on December 22, 1820. What was this tradition all about? Before the thanksgiving dinner was served, they would place 5 kernels of corn upon each empty plate. Each member of the family would pick up a kernel and tell what they were thankful for. It was to remind them that the first Pilgrims were in such dire straits that their allowance was only 5 kernels of corn per person each day.

We have many reasons to be thankful.

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: ³ Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, ⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

What can we learn from these verses? 

Verse 1 starts with praise for God. 

When we start our prayer time it should include praise. We are to praise God for who He is and what He means to us. When we praise Him, it lifts our thoughts from who we are to who He is. It will also direct us to His greatness and not to our weakness. Praise is telling God what is special about Him, like His character, and power.

Verse 2 tells us not to forget all the Lord has done for us. 

Forgetting can be dangerous, wither it is on purpose or not. When we become man-centered instead of God-centered, that is when we forget what God has and will do for us. The economy is bad, the world is at war, people are having problems with their health, their homes, and their finances. Does this surprise you? It shouldn’t, even the church is not immune to problems. Yes, the world is changing, the church is changing, your life is changing, but the benefits of the Lord never change! Why? Because He never changes. The more we focus on worldly things it is easier to forget God’s care, His love, and His guidance, but most of all, we will forget God Himself, and what He has done. 

We will continue next time focusing on verses 3-5 of Psalm 103.